Dual blade pole top switch



May 24, 1966 J. G. PAHL 3,253,093

DUAL BLADE POLE TOP SWITCH Filed April 2G. 1964 2 SheetS-Sheet l MaY 24,1966 .1. G. PAI-ll. 3,253,093

DUAL BLADE POLE TOP SWITCH Filed April 2G, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UnitedStates Patent O 3,253,093 DUAL BLADE PGLE TGP SWITCH .lohn G. Pahl, 1624E. Alpine Ave., R0. BOX 1257, Stockton, Calif. Fiied Apr. 20, 1964, Ser.No. 361,@95 6 Claims. (Cl. 299-48) This invention relates in general toa pole top switch of the type mounted on a pole-supported cross-arm andinterposed between two current-carrying cables extending from pole topole; the present invention being an improvement over the switch shownin my copending application Serial No. 241,716, tiled December 3, 1962,and now Patent No. 3,144,526, dated August l1, 1964.

The principal object of the present invention is to construct the dualblade switch in such a manner that a higher amperage may be carried bythe switch without any material increase in size and weight-than waspossible with the previous switch.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an improvedswitch, as above, adapted to employ the same supporting and operatingstructure as the prior switch.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved switch,of the type described, which affords a more eiiicient circulation of airabout and through the switch structure to cool the same.

A further object of the invention is to so mount the separable male andfemale switch members on the corresponding relatively movablepole-mounted supports in a manner so that such switch members willproperly aline with each other when the supports are relatively moved toclose the switch, even though such supports may be slightly out ofproper alignment with each other.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a dual blade poletop switch which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture, andconvenience of installation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a practical,reliable, and durable dual blade pole top switch and one which isexceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relativearrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the followingspecication and claims.

ln the drawings:

FIG. l is a side elevation of the improved switch as mounted on thecross-arm of a line pole and as closed; the normally inclined switchstructure-for clarity of disclosure being shown as if in a verticalplane, while the normally horizontal cross arm and parts mounted thereonare consequently shown as being disposed in a plane at an angle to theperpendicular.

FlG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the closed switch taken online 2 2 of FIG. 1.

FlG. 3 is a fragmentary transverse section taken on line 3 3 of FIG. l.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged longitudinal section taken on line 4 4of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse section taken on line 5 5 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary transverse section taken on line 6 6 of FIG. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and ice to thecharacters of reference marked thereon, the switch structure of theinstant invention is mounted on the crossarm 1 of a line pole, and isinterposed between opposed line cables 2 and 3; the mounting means forsuch switch structure including a pair of separate longitudinallyspaced, laterally and upwardly inclined arms 4 and 5 having conventionalinsulator units 6 and 7, respectively, on their lower facing ends.Bracket plates 8 are mounted on and upstand from the cross arm l and atoggle unit 9 is supported between such bracket plates; such toggle unitbeing connected to the adjacent ends of the shanks of the insulatorunits 6 and 7 in a manner to allow of rotation of insulator unit 6 withits shank 16 as an axis. The shank 10 is disposed in a plane at rightangles to the longitudinal plane of the cross arm. The insulator unit 6,adjacent the shank 10, is provided with a generally horizontal radialarm 11 from which a push-pullv rod 12 depends whereby to control fromthe ground-the rotation of said unit 6 .as well as resultant swinging ofthe arm 4.

The above mounting means for the switch structure is substantiallyidentical with that shown and specically described in said Patent No.3,144,526.

The arms 4 and 5 extend upwardly from corresponding insulator units, andterminate at their upper ends in horizontal extensions 13 and 14,respectively, projecting toward each other. These extensions which areparallel to the shank 10 are normally (or when the switch is closed)substantially on a common level, but are laterally offset from eachother as shown in FIG. 2.

The present switch structure, which is supported by and spans betweenthe extensions 13 and 14, is comprised of the following:

A longitudinally extending bus bar 15 is disposed in overlying relationto the extension 13, and projects beyond the outer end thereof somedistance. At its inner end, the bus bar 15 is provided with a clamp 16to which one end of a jumper cable 17 is connected; the other end ofsaid jumper cable being connected to a clamping unit 18 secured on thearm 4 in the usual manner and to which the line cable 2 is clamped.

The bus bar is somewhat exibly mounted on the extension 13 by means of acollar 19 secured on said extension vand having an upstanding pin 20projecting through the bus bar with a loose t. At its outer end, the busbar 15 is formed with a depending base 21 disposed beyond the adjacentend of the extension 13, and from which base an ear 22 projects towardsaid extension. The ear 22 terminates above and spaced from another ear23 projecting from a collar 24 `clamped on the outer end of theextension 13. The ears 22 and 23 are connected by a bolt 25, with acompression spring 26 on the bolt between said ears.

Secured to the base 21, with the ear 22 therebetween, are spacedlongitudinally extending switch blades 27, which together-in parallelismform the male member of the switch.

The switch blades 27 which project away from and are alined with the busbar 15 are disposed transversely so that the space therebetween lies ina plane at right angles to a line radially of the axis of the shank 1t).Said blades 27 are adapted to engage, `in switch closing relation,between the blades 28 of the female member 29 of the switch. Such femaleswitch member which is substantially of the same form and constructionas that shown in the aforementioned patent-includes side walls 3Gflaring outwardly from the blades 28 and then depending, in spacedrelation to said blades, to terminations beyond the inner or lower endsof the blades as clearly shown in FIG. 3.

The side walls 30, at said terminations thereof, are secured to theadjacent end portion of a longitudinally split or slotted bus bar 31which extends along and in spaced relation to one side of the extension114, and is thus in a plane at right angles to the bus `bar 15.

At its opposite end, said bus bar 31 is provided with a clamp 32 inwhich one end of a jumper cable 33 is secured; the other end of saidjumper cable being secured to a clamping unit 34 mounted on the arm 5and to which unit the line cable 3 is connected.

The female switch member 29 and the bus bar 31 are mounted as a unit onextension 14 in the following manner:

A rigid yoke 35 is xed on the arm extension 14 in embracing relation tothe switch member 29. Opposed bolts 36 are slidably mounted in the sidesof the yoke and are secured to the blades 28. In addition, clampingcollars 37 are mounted in spaced relation on the extension 14intermediate the ends of the bus bar 31. Pins 38 project from saidcollars through the slot 39 which extends along said bus bar; the sidesof the slot `being reamed out about the pins as shown at 40' so as toprovide a loose but locating t for the pins.

The female switch member 29, in addition to the blades 28, includes acentral double-thickness blade 41 which projects into the adjacentportion of the slot 39 of the bus bar 31 and is secured thereto inconnection with the side walls 30 of said switch member 29. Thethickness of the blade `41 is less than the width of the space betweenthe `blades 27, while the flat portions of the blades 28 are spacedfurther apart than the distance between the opposite faces of the blades27, as shown in FIG. 4. However, said blades 28 are deformed near theirends to provide ribs 42 which extend from top to bottom of said bladesand engage the blades 27. Similarly, the blade 41 is deformed onopposite sides and centrally of its ends to provide ribs 43 which extendfrom top `to Ybottom of said blade and closely engage the adjacent facesof the blades 28.

By reason of the above described switch structure, the switch can beeasily opened or closed by pushing or pulling on the rod 12; theresultant rotation of insulator unit 6 and swinging of arm 4 in onedirection or the other causing engagement or disengagement of the maleand female members of the switch.

A very important feature of the switch structure is the spaced or dualswitch blade and slotted bus bar arrangement which provides suicientcapacity for a high amperage load, while allowing air to circulate aboutand between the parts to cool the same.

Also of advantage is the specific mounting and arrangement of the twoseparate blade and bus bar units of the switch structure, and whichenables the cooperating blade units to properly match each other whenthe arm 4 is turned or swung to a switch closing position.

Further, the ribs on the switch blades provide for a close andnon-arcing engagement of the blades with each other, even though theblades themselves, for one reason or another, may be slightly out ofparallel alinement.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily seen that there hasbeen produced such a switch as substantially fullls the objects of theinvention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction of the switch, still in practice such deviations from suchdetail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit ofthe invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the followingY is claimed as newand useful and upon which Letters Patent is desired:

1. In a switch which comprises male and female members adapted to lbeinterposed in an electrical circuit, and means mounting the `members forrelative movement into and out of closing relation; the male membercomprising a pair of parallel `blades spaced apart and the female membercomprising a pair of blades spaced apart to receive the first namedblades therebetween and to engage the same on their opposite sides whenthe switch is closed, a ybus bar extending lengthwise of and secured atone end to the ends of the `blades of the male member furthest from thefemale member, said bus bar being adapted at its opposite end forconnection to an electric cable, an arm member included with themounting means extending lengthwise of and spaced from the bus bar, andmeans flexibly supporting the bus bar from said arm member.

2. A switch, as in claim 1, in which said last named means comprises anear rigid with and projecting from the blade connected end of the busbar below the same and toward the adjacent end of the arm member,another ear xed on and projecting from said end of the arm member inunderlying and spaced relation to the irst named ear, a bolt connectingthe ears, a compression spring about the bolt and engaging the ears, anda pin rigid with the arm member and projecting with a loose t throughthe bus bar intermediate the ends thereof.

3. In a switch which comprises male and female members adapted to beinterposed in an electrical circuit, and means mounting the members forrelative movement into and out of closing relation; the male membercomprising a pair of parallel Iblades spaced apart and the female membercomprising a pair of blades spaced apart to receive the first namedblades therebetween and to engage the same on their opposite sides whenthe switch is closed, the female switch member including side wallsconnected to the blades thereof at their outer ends and depending thencein laterally and outwardly spaced relation beyond the inner ends of saidblades, a bus bar extending parallel to the blades of the male member ina direction away from the same and connected at one end to said sidewalls at their lower ends, a clamp on the bus bar at the end oppositethe female switch member adapted for connection to an electrical cable,and means mounting the bus bar in a predetermined position relative tothe male switch member.

4. A switch, as in claim 3, in which the mounting means for the `bus barincludes an arm member extending length-` wise of and spaced from saidbus bar, a rigid yoke on the arm member and embracing the female switchmember transversely thereof from below and in clearance relation, andlaterally outwardly projecting elements secured to the blades of thefemale switch member and thence slidably extending through oppositesides of the yoke.

5. A switch, as in claim 3, in which the mounting means for the bus barincludes an arm member extending ilengthwise of and spaced from said busbar, a rigid yoke on the arm member, connection elements extendingbetween the female switch member and opposite sides of the yoke, and alaterally projecting pin fixed on the arm member intermediate the endsof the latter, the bus bar having an `opening into which the pin extendswith a realtively loose but locating it.

6. In a pole top switch which includes adjacent arm members projectingtoward but end-spaced from each other, said arm members being inparallel planes, means mounting the arm members for relative swingingmovement in a plane at a right angle to said parallel planes, a switchstructure spanning between the arm members, and means mounting theswitch structure in connection with the arm members, said switchstructure having male and female switch members engaging upon suchrelative swinging of the arm members in one direction; the improvementwherein said switch structure mounting means 5 6 comprises alongitudinal bus bar extending along but References Cited by theExaminer spaced from each arm member, the maleswitch member UNITEDSTATES PATENTS being on one bus bar and the female swltch member on theother bus bar, and mounting elements between each 1576799 3/1926Thompson 20G-166 X bus bar and the related arm member supporting saidbus 5 1% bars vfor limited yielding movement from an initial positionand in response to engagement of the male and female Switch members.ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Przmary Examiner.

1. IN A SWITCH WHICH COMPRISES MALE AND FEMALE MEMBERS ADAPTED TO BEINTERPOSED IN AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, AND MEANS MOUNTING THE MEMBERS FORRELATIVE MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF CLOSING RELATION; THE MALE MEMBERCOMPRISING A PAIR OF PARALLEL BLADES SPACED APART AND THE FEMALE MEMBERCOMPRISING A PAIR OF BLADES SPACED APART TO RECEIVE THE FIRST NAMEDBLADES THEREBETWEEN AND TO ENGAGE THE SAME ON THEIR OPPOSITE SIDES WHENTHE SWITCH IS CLOSED, A BUS BAR EXTENDING LENGTHWISE OF AND SECURED ATONE END TO THE ENDS OF THE BLADES OF THE MALE MEMBER FURTHEST FROM THEFEMALE MEMBER, SAID BUS BAR BEING ADAPTED AT ITS OPPOSITE END FORCONNECTION TO AN ELECTRIC CABLE, AN ARM MEMBER INCLUDED WITH THEMOUNTING MEANS EXTENDING LENGTHWISE OF AND SPACED FROM THE BUS BAR, ANDMEANS FLEXIBLY SUPPORTING THE BUS BAR FROM SAID ARM MEMBER.